Comparative studies on shielding properties of some steel alloys using Geant4, MCNP, WinXCOM and experimental results

• Photon interaction parameters of carbon and stainless steel alloys were investigated.
• Good agreements of simulated results were found for theoretical data using WinXcom.
• Monte Carlo simulation, theoretical data and experimental results shows very good agreement.
• Monte Carlo simulation process can be used for gamma ray interaction with alloys.

The mass attenuation coefficients, µ/ρ and effective atomic numbers, Zeff of some carbon steel and stainless steel alloys have been calculated by using Geant4, MCNP simulation codes for different gamma ray energies, 279.1 keV, 661.6 keV, 662 keV, 1115.5 keV, 1173 keV and 1332 keV. The simulation results of Zeff using Geant4 and MCNP codes have been compared with possible available experimental results and theoretical WinXcom, and good agreement has been observed. The simulated µ/ρ and Zeff values using Geant4 and MCNP code signifies that both the simulation process can be followed to determine the gamma ray interaction properties of the alloys for energies wherever analogous experimental results may not be available. This kind of studies can be used for various applications such as for radiation dosimetry, medical and radiation shielding.